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During previous trips in recent years, we were affected by a Lufthansa airline strike before our barge cruise with European Waterways and again for our Bordeaux summer river cruise with Viking. But for a truly French experience in the culinary sense, we recommend booking some restaurant experiences on your own in addition to the excursions offered. You will not feel immersed in French cuisine when you sail on this cruise, like during a land trip to Provence.
Night Swiss Alps & Rhine CastlesDetails
AmaWaterways adds agent course for Rhine, Main and Moselle cruises - Travel Weekly
AmaWaterways adds agent course for Rhine, Main and Moselle cruises.
Posted: Wed, 04 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The change included more logistics and coordination than most guests probably realized. As such, the guests boarded buses to reach the boat from Tournon after our morning tours; the ship was further along the Rhone River after our excursions than where we disembarked that morning. As soon as the guests disembarked AmaKristina in Tournon, the ship sailed away to make it to the next location. This smart move was the captain’s solution to deal with the strike and stay on course for our Colors of Provence itinerary.
Rhone River Cruise Review: AmaWaterways Colors of Provence
Most AmaWaterways river cruise ships have a professionally trained Wellness Host on board who leads complimentary yoga, Zumba, and other fitness activities throughout the journey. Active shore excursions, including guided bike tours and hikes, are also offered in ports of call. Guests who prefer riding in their spare time rather than taking a biking excursion can use AmaLucia’s complimentary bicycles. AmaKristina was the first river cruise ship in the industry to receive the prestigious Green Award, which recognizes ships in Europe for their quality, safety and environmental performance.
AmaWaterways Colors of Provence Cruise FAQs
Other times, the river’s water levels may be too low to sail because there is insufficient water beneath the boat and the riverbed. The best thing to do is extend your river cruise for time on land with a pre or post-cruise extension. Dan and I did this, and it’s when we really immersed ourselves in French cuisine. While 180M tourists in France are French people discovering their own culture (because the different areas of France vastly vary from one another), most of the fellow cruisers onboard AmaKristina were American and British.
CRUISE FROM : Amsterdam to Basel
After touring the castle, we had plenty of time on our own to explore the Old City with its countless shops and boutiques, stroll along the waterfront, and relax at an outdoor café while sampling German beers. You can sign up for a cruise sailing from Lyon to Avignon, north to south, or select the opposite direction from Avignon to Lyon, south to north. The only difference between them is the river cruise ship's direction and the order of the towns you visit; the itinerary and towns you stop at are the same. When choosing your river cruise ship, consider the amenities that would make your vacation more pleasurable. Europe’s summers are often hot, so spending time in the pool is appealing. AmaLucia’s sun deck features a lovely outdoor pool, and I was thrilled to kick back and cool down there during our cruise in July.
Cruise through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland from Basel to Amsterdam, visiting iconic landmarks and enjoying the majestic landscapes along the Rhine River. Dramatic rivers yielding to fairytale towns and iconic cities all come alive as you discover four countries along the storied Rhine and Moselle. Take in the architecture and artistry of castles such as Brussels’ Gaasbeek and Ghent’s Castle of the Counts before gliding past more than 40 fairytale castles in the Rhine Gorge on one immersive sailing! Enjoy your entire 14-night Grand River Cruise on board the same beautiful ship as you experience the best of Holland, Belgium, and the Rhine River.
Europe’s Rivers & Castles
It also provides biodegradable Tetra Pak water containers for excursions. Additionally, luggage tags are made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottle material while the myAmaCruise app has virtually eliminated paper. Because of this, the guests hardly noticed an impending strike that could have very much affected the cruise. Luckily, AmaWaterways knew a lock workers strike would affect the fifth day of our cruise. Because they knew this beforehand, the captain, Cruise Director, and crew planned accordingly. The best is if you can find a French cheesemonger and ask about the cheeses, then decide what you want to purchase.
The alternative is finding the herbs at specialty upscale spice towns in old town centers or in souvenir shops that sell a variety of keepsakes and trinkets. The highlight is the small towns and cities you visit in Provence, not far from the Rhone River, not necessarily the countryside. If you love science, you’ll be intrigued to know that the cruise passes three nuclear power plants.
While AmaWaterways offers some cheese onboard, we found it wasn’t as authentic as the cheese you can get on land. Our Colors of Provence cruise with AmaWaterways was a vacation for the books! Many itineraries travel between Amsterdam and Basel in Switzerland, and some incorporate other rivers as well. Standing on AmaLucia’s sun deck, I was mesmerized by the awe-inspiring scenery complete with picturesque towns, hillside vineyards, and 30 stunning castles and fortresses lining the river. Our knowledgeable cruise manager provided expert commentary on the Upper Middle Rhine Valley’s castles, the area’s stories and legends, the massive Loreley Rock, and the iconic statue that bears the siren’s name.
But don’t be surprised if you encounter a lot of French tourists while you’re in ports during a Provence river cruise. The Rhone River is around 500 miles, but you only sail a portion of it during this AmaWaterways 7-night river cruise. Mile marker “0” (zero) on the Rhone River is at the Confluences in Lyon, which you sail past during the cruise. Some of the best moments of my AmaWaterways river cruise were spent on our ship, simply relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking scenery. It’s rare to have this kind of pleasurable downtime, and our floating luxury hotel provided front-row seats for the Rhine’s spectacular show.
Savor the storybook atmosphere of some of Europe’s most charming towns and along the way, get swept up in the many treasures just waiting to be discovered along the Rhine and Main rivers. While operating sustainable, environmentally friendly ships is fundamental to AmaWaterways, both Zambezi Queen and AmaMagna go above and beyond with eco-friendly features. Zambezi Queen, which explores the Chobe River in Africa, uses a five-stage water purification plant, employing river water in the showers and tap aboard. The ship’s water jet propulsion system replaces a conventional system, ensuring there is no damage to the riverbed. Throughout the night, the ship operates on battery power and only the low-emission generators run throughout the day. If you want to be sure you’ll see lavender fields during a summer vacation in Provence, extend your cruise with a land trip before or after the journey to venture into the countryside.
AmaWaterways Hit Record Sales in January - TravelAge West
AmaWaterways Hit Record Sales in January.
Posted: Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Since then, another 19 river cruise ships in AmaWaterways’ European fleet have earned the Green Award certification. All ships are able to connect to shoreside electric power, which further reduces fuel consumption and noise levels while in port. AmaWaterways has lessened unnecessary food waste from large-scale buffets by serving a la carte lunches on board European ships. Our sailing offered a wealth of opportunities to be immersed in the history, culture, and landscapes of Europe. All 21 enriching excursions offered on our AmaLucia voyage were included in the cruise fare, and two to four tours were available in each port of call.
The sun deck offers loungers in both sun and shade, and a large seating area at the bow is equipped with comfortable couches, tables, and chairs perfect for taking in the panoramic scenic views. Toward the end of my trip, I sat on a stoop enjoying a mango gelato after a long walking tour of Riquewihr, a fairy-tale medieval French town. I had sweated my way down the Rhine for the past week, but it was exactly the kind of vacation I needed. For someone like me, whose mind is constantly racing with worries, staying active allowed me to be more present and connected—even when I was being shown up by people twice my age. Those moments in a new destination, when the responsibilities dissipate, make travel—and the sweat—so rewarding.
Another unexpected Rhone River challenge had nothing to do with water levels; it had to do with the locks being affected by a strike! During the cruise, the captain smartly adjusted our day's schedule in Tournon to avoid the lock workers' strike. Baguettes are less than €1 per piece at any market or supermarket you visit in France. Our favorite grocery shop in France is Carrefour; most any sizable French city has one. The next afternoon, we enjoyed a beautiful sail through the Rhone River valley after our morning in Vienne.
That’s generally true of most cruises, whose cuisine needs to cater to a broad audience. The sun was shining, and the skies were blue as we pulled away from the port, turned away from the attractive Pont d’Universite bridge, and sailed south. The dining room on the ship is very nice, with booth seating and tables. The common spaces, including the lounge areas and a small library and bar, are great places to relax after a day in port or to enjoy entertainment like listening to the piano player. You'll sail to and visit lovely French cities and villages on this itinerary, including Lyon, Beaujolais, Vienne, Tournon and Hermitage, Avignon, and Arles. AmaLucia’s sun deck is another great place to watch the Rhine’s ever-changing landscapes.
